Garment applying device



H. E. ZABEL GARMENT APPLYING DEVICE May 26, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledOct. 1, 1953 INVENT OR ATTORNEY H. E. ZABEL GARMENT APPLYING DEVICE May26, 1959 Filed Oct. 1. 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Ha rry Zabe/ Emman m g ATTORNEY United States Patent GARMENT APPLYING DEVICE Harry E.Zabel, St. Paul, Minn. Application October 1, 1953, Serial No. 383,609

16 Claims. (Cl. 223-111) This invention relates to an improvement inapparatus for applying articles of clothing and deals with an apparatususeful in putting on or removing hosiery or other articles of clothingfor many persons who suffer from arthritis or injuries and who areunable to bend sufficiently to put on hosiery or other articles ofclothing. This causes a feeling of dependence which the person soafilicted does not enjoy. The present invention deals with a simpleapparatus which permits such articles of clothing to be applied withoutbending to the extent normally necessary.

' A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of anapparatus capable of engaging the upper margin of a stocking, or otherarticles of clothing. This device is provided with one or more handlesby means of which it may be manipulated without leaning over to theextent normally necessary in putting on such articles. The apparatus maybe used in drawing the article of clothing over the foot and on to theleg of the wearer, permitting the operator to put on articles ofclothing which otherwise would be impossible for the person to put on.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a splitring shape sleeve or collar which is of suflicient size to fit over theleg of the user. The collar is provided with clamping means which may beattached to the upper margin of the article of clothing; The collarholds the stocking expanded so as the collar is drawn over the foot andon to the leg of the stocking is applied.

-A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a devicefor drawing the stocking or other articles of clothing on to the bodyand in forming the device in separable parts so that the device may bedetached and removed without the necessity of slipping the sleeve orcollar down the leg over the applied stocking. If the stocking has beendrawn into place, the upper margin thereof may be detached from thesleeve or collar and the two parts of the device maybe slid apart andremoved.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the fact that theclamping means for engaging the upper margin of the stocking may be usedwhile the stocking partially encircles the collar or sleeve or may pivotinwardly to hold a short sock or similar article expanded. Short socksare not as large as their upper periphery as full length stockings andnormally the short socks will not expand sufficiently to encircle thecollar or sleeve. In such an event the clamping means may swing inwardlyto hold the upper end of such an article fully expanded.

An added feature of the present invention lies in the fact that theapparatus may be used for applying articles of underwear which must bedrawn over the legs as well as stockings. As the two parts of theapparatus are separable, they may be attached to opposite sides of sucha garment and the garment drawn over the feet and legs.

These and other objects and novel features of the invention will be moreclearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims:

1 In the drawings forming a part of the specification; i

Patented May 26, 1959 Figure 1 is a front elevational view of theshowing the construction thereof.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1.

' Figure 3 is a top plan view of the device.

Figure 4 is a sectional view through one of the clamps forming a part ofthe device.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the clamps.

Figure 6 is a sectional view through one of the handles showing themanner in which the latches may be disengaged.

Figure 7 is a sectional view through the latch mechanism associated witheach clamping device.

The garment applying device is indicated in general by the letter A.This device is designed for use in applying a sock such as B or astocking, as well as other articles of clothing. In general the deviceincludes a body having a pair of curved side members 10 and 11. Thesecurved side members frictionally engage together or may be securedtogether in any suitable manner. In the particular arrangementillustrated the relative ends 12 of side member 10 and side member 11fit into relatively oppositely facing grooves 13 in opposite ends ofmembers 10 and 11, as shown in Figure 3. The two sides may, if desired,be secured together but preferably they merely abut and fit togetherfrictionally so that they may be easily separated. The sides areprovided with handles 14 and 15 which are secured to the center portionsof the sides spaced from the lower edge thereof and extend upwardly andrearwardly or in substantially an axial direction therefrom. Thesehandles are rigidly connected to the sides to act as supports thereforand provide a means of manipulating the device from a substantialdistance.

The sides 10 and 11 each support a pair of clamping members bestillustrated in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings. Each clamping memberincludes a pair of resilient strips or arms 16 and 17 which areconnected together at their upper ends by a tubular connecting portion19. The tubular portion 19 extends beyond the sides of the strips 16 and17 to form pintles 20 (one only being shown in' detail in Figure 5) bymeans of which the arms 16 and 17 are supported. Spaced ring shapedbearings 21 and 22- are mounted upon the sides 10 and 11 to encircle thesupport the pintles 20 at the ends of the tubular portion" 19. Thus thearms 16 and 17 are pivoted to swing into or out of the plane of theportion of the side 10 or 11 to which they are hinged.

The sides 10 and 11 are provided with vertically elongated openings 23which are slightly wider than the strips 16 and 17 and which are longerthan the strips 17 but shorter than the strips 16. The strips 16 extendthrough this aperture 23 and the lower margin of the strip bears againstthe inner surface of the side 10 or 11. This engagement limits theoutward movement of the engaged arms 16 and 17. Inward pivotal movementof the arms is limited by the engagement of the arm 16 with the upperedge 25 of aperture 23. In other words the lower edge 24 of the apertureforms a shoulder for limiting pivotal movement of the arm assembly inone direction and the upper edge 25 forms a shoulder for limitingpivotal movement in the opposite direction.

One of the arms is provided near its lower end with short pins orprojections 26, such projections being shown on the arm 16 in Figure 5.The other arm 17 is shown provided with a series of openings 27 whichare aligned apparatus with the pins 26. The pins are preferablyextremely" small so as not to injure a fiber through which they pass andact to hold the garment securely between the arms 16 and 17 when thesearms are clamped together.

A pair of parallel ears 29 extend forwardly from the arm 16, extendingon opposite sides of the arm 17 These arms 29 support a pivot pin 30which extends through a bearing upon a lever 31. Alternatively the pivot30 may be secured to the lever 31 and project latterally therefromthrough the ears 29.

The lever 31 includes a lever arm 32 which is relative ly long and whichextends in surface contact with the arm 17 when the arms 16 and 17 arespread apart. The lever also includes a short arm 33 extending at rightangles at the arm 31 and terminating in a bearing flange 34. By pivotingthe lever 31 to right angles with the arm 17, the short arm 33 isbrought to bear against the arm 17. Further pivotal movement of thelever 31 acts to cause the flanged end of the lever to bear against thearm 17 and urge it inwardly toward the arm 16. When the lever has beenpivoted through 180 degrees the flange end 34 rests against the arm 17and holds this arm clamped against the arm 16.

A hooked shaped projection 35 is provided on the free end of the longarm 32 of each lever 31 and extends at right angles thereto. The tubularconnecting portion 19 of the arms is notched as indicated at 36 toaccommodate this projection 35. A plunger 57 is slidably supportedwithin the tubular portion 19 as best illustrated in Fig ure 7 of thedrawings. The plungers 37 may be spring urged toward one end of thetubular end member 19 if desired. In the particular arrangementillustrated the means for operating the plungers act as springs.

As shown in Figure 7 the projecting hook 35 of each lever 31 passesthrough the aperture 36 of a corresponding member 19 and engages againstthe interior of the plunger 37. in other words the hooked end of thehook 35 engages against a wall of the plunger 37 and is prevented frompulling out thereby. The flanges 34 do not engage fiat. against the arm17 so that there is always a tendency for the lever 31 to swing into theposition shown in Figure 5. The spring of the arms 16 and 17 alwaystends to pivot the lever 31 even if it is in locked position.

As indicated in Figure 2 of the drawings the plungers 37 of the twoclamping members on one side 11 of the device are connected to resilientwire arms 39 and 40. As shown in Figure 6 the wire 39 is connected to acrossbar 41 extending through a shaft 42. The other wire it is connectedto the opposite end of the cross-arm 41. The upper end of the shaft 42is bent angularly to the body of the shaft as indicated at 43. This end43 extends through a transverse slot 4a in the arm 15.

When the crank end 43 is oscillated (not shown) in one direction bothplungers 37 are urged into their respective members 19 into position toengage the corresponding projection 35 of a lever 31. As the hookshapedprojection 35 enters the slots 36 the wedge shaped end 45 thereof pushesthe plunger outwardly slightly flexing the spring connection 39 or 40.If preferred other spring means may be employed for urging the plungers37 into locking position. If the hook of the projection becomes alignedwith the hollow interior 46 of the plunger 37 the resilience of thespring connection causes the plunger to lock the hook preventing it frompivoting. As all of the various clamping elements are substantiallyidentical only one such element has been shown in detail and described.Furthermore as both of the sides and 11 operate substantially in thesame manner, only one side has been described in detail.

The operation of the apparatus will now be described.

If the article to be applied is a full length stocking, the afilictedperson places the top of the stocking encircling the. lower end of thesleeve formed by the two abutting side members 10 and 11. While theclamps are in open position the upper edge of the stocking is insertedbetween the arms 16 and 17, the tiny points 26 piercing the stocking.The shaft 42 on each side of the device is swung into position to urgethe plungers 37 into locking position or, alternatively resilient meansnormally urges the shaft 42 in such a direction. may be the spring 47shown in Figure 6.

Each of the clamping means are then moved into clamping position byswinging each of the levers 31 upwardly until the hooked shapedprojections enter the tubular members 19 and engage the correspondingplung er 37. When the locking members are engaged the plungers hold themin locked position. As the stocking is usually spread apart somewhatbeyond its normal size, the stocking tends to hold the two sides 16 and11 of the device in proper abutting relation.

The handles are next grasped and the sleeve formed by the sides It) and11 is drawn over the foot and up the leg until the stocking may bereached and drawn by hand. At this time the crank ends 43 of the shafts42 are pivoted to oscillate (not shown) the shafts and to urge theplunger 37 out of engagement with the projections 35. Metal spreadingforce of the arms 16 and 17 then swing the lever 31 into the positionshown in figure 5, the arms spreading apart to release the stock ing.After the top of the stocking has been withdrawn from sleeve encirclingposition, the two halves, or sides it) and 11, may be separated and laidaside.

In the event the object to be applied is a short soclc which will notspread sufficiently to encircle the sleeve, the upper edge of the sockmay be clamped between the arms 16 and 17 while these arms are swunginwardly through the openings 23. In such a case the clamping armsincline downwardly and inwardly and hold the sock fully expanded at itsupper end. The clamping levers 31 may be easily manipulated regardlessof thepivotal position of the arms 16 and 17. The sock may be similarlydisengaged by manipulation of the shaft. 42. in some instances it hasbeen found preferable to mount the pins 26 upon the outer arm 17 and toplace the open ings 27 in the arm 16. This arrangement has the advantageof releasing more readily when the clamps are open but limits the lengthof the points as in such a case they cannot extend through the arm 16without danger of scratching the foot or leg during the use of thedevice.

Articles of underwear which are drawn over the legs: may also be appliedby my device by merely attaching. each side of the garment at the topthereof to a corresponding side 10 or 11 of the device. The garment maybe thus expanded while the feet are being inserted and the handles maybe used to draw the garment up over the legs until the top thereof maybe grasped.

In accordance with the patent statutes, the principles of constructionand operation of the garment applying: device have been described andwhile it has been endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof,it is desired to have it understood. that obvious changes may be madewithin the scope of the following claims. without departing from thespirit of the present invention.

I claim:

1. A garment applying device for use in holding a garment expanded, thedevice including in combination a sleeve, handle means secured to saidsleeve and extending longitudinally in an. axial direction therefrom,said. sleeve having a plurality of angularly spaced openingstherethrough, and a plurality of garment engaging means pivotallysupported by said sleeve and swingahle through. said openings.

2. The construction described in claim 1 and in which. said garmentengaging means comprises spaced clamping means.

3. The construction described in claim 1. and in. which; each of saidgarment. engaging means comprise. a pair of clamping arms, and includingmeans for clamping; said arms together.

4. The construction described in claim. I and. in which the garmentengaging means comprise at least. two spaced One such means apart pairsof clamping arms, and including; means for.

clamping said arms together, and means. for locking, said arms inclamping position.

5. A device for use in holding a garment expanded including incombination a ring sleeve, handle means secured to said sleeve andextending longitudinally in a general axial direction therefrom, saidsleeve having a plurality of angularly spaced openings therethrough, aplurality of spaced apart pairs of clamping arms pivotally secured tosaid sleeve adjacent to one end of said openings and swingable throughsaid openings, pivotal connecting means for operating said arms, meansfor locking said clamping arms, and means for releasing said lockingmeans.

6. The construction described in claim and in which the locking meansincludes a hooked-shaped member on said means for operating saidclamping arms.

7. The construction described in claim 5 and in which said means foroperating said clamping arms comprise a lever, and one of the arms ofeach pair of clamping arms being of greater length than the other armthereof.

8. The construction described in claim 5 and in which said releasingmeans is mounted upon said handle means.

9. A garment applying device including in combination a pair ofdisconnected independently separable curved side members engageable inedge abutting relationship to form a temporary garment holding sleevering, an independent handle mounted on each of said side members,pivotal garment holding means mounted on each of said members, and saidmembers in their edge abutting relation forming a ring with said garmentholding means being adapted to engage and hold a garment expanded sothat it may be drawn over the feet, the holding means disengaged and themembers thereafter separated from their edge abutting relation to breakthe formed temporary garment holding sleeve ring.

10. The construction described in claim 9 and in which the holding meansengaging the garment comprise clamping means attached to said sides andcooperable therewith to selectively hold a garment against the innerperiphery of said curved side members in one clamping relationship andagainst the outer periphery of said curved side members in anotherclamping relationship.

11. The construction described in claim 9 and in which the said clampingmeans engaging the garment comprise two spaced garment engaging means.

12. A device for use in applying a garment above the feet and legscomprising in combination a pair of curved independent side membershaving interlocking and overlapping ends slidingly engageable in endabutting frictional relationship to provide a temporary garmentsupporting ring-shaped body, a garment attaching means on each sidemember selectively engageable externally and internally of saidtemporary body with the upper edge of a garment to be applied, pivotalmeans connecting said garment attaching means, lever means to operatesaid pivotal means and elongated handles secured to each of said sidemembers and extending upwardly therefrom in independently spacedseparable relationship by means of which the ring-shaped member may bemanipulated and disengage said curved side members to break the saidring-shaped body.

13. The construction described in claim 12 and in which the means forengaging the garment comprise spaced clamping means.

14. The construction described in claim 12 and in which the garmentattachment means engaging the garment comprise pairs of spaced garmentholding means.

15. A garment applying device for use in holding a garment in expandedform, the device including in combination a pair of relatively separabledisconnected curved members each forming a relative half section of aringshaped body, a plurality of pairs of angularly spaced exterior andinterior garment engaging means on said curved members which form saidring-shaped body, and handle means secured to said ring-shaped body andextending in a direction longitudinally of the axis of the body.

16. The construction described in claim 15 and in which said garmentengaging means comprise spaced clamping means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS200,293 Hayden Feb. 12, 1878 888,063 Brooks May 19, 1908 1,315,096Deiley Sept. 2, 1919 2,443,115 Park June 8, 1948 2,663,026 Arnold Dec.22, 1953

